Hero is intended to function as a tool to help college students manage the cost of textbooks.
Software provider Sidewalk has announced the launch of Hero, a new platform providing content cost transparency for faculty, college bookstores, and students nationwide. The new software is anticipated to be installed in 200 universities this year.
Hero was first created as “My Book List” by Brigham Young University. Over the past five years, the product has been continuously improved and refined with feedback from over 1,600 faculty members, 30,000 students and one of the largest campus bookstores in the country.
“Course content selection has existed in silos far too long, leading to limited choice, blind pricing, steep cost increases and general frustration amongst students, faculty and campus bookstores,” said Alan Martin, Founder and CEO of Sidewalk.
(Next page: Key features of the Hero platform)
Laura Ascione is the Editorial Director at eSchool Media. She is a graduate of the University of Maryland's prestigious Philip Merrill College of Journalism. Latest posts by Laura Ascione (see all) - Weak tech could push students, faculty to other institutions - April 13, 2026
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